Fire danger in Kootenai County was raised to "very high" Sunday as Stage 2 fire restrictions begin just after midnight this morning.
The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department reported Tuesday the change in fire danger status was raised after a prolonged weather pattern of high heat and low precipitation. In the "very high" fire danger category, fires
start easily from all causes and immediately after ignition, rapidly spread and increase quickly in intensity.
Wildfire activity increased over the weekend across the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Above-average temperatures and below-normal precipitation in the last two months have created unseasonably dry fuel conditions and active fire behavior.